Root Canals: Setting the Record Straight
As with any other health related topic, there are many common myths that seem to follow root canals around, so we are here to set the record straight!
Here are five of the most common questions we hear in our practice every day:
- After a root canal, is my tooth dead?
No. Many people believe that root canal therapy kills teeth. But the opposite is true. During a root canal procedure, we remove only the infected tissue inside of the tooth, leaving healthy nerves and blood vessels to grow and heal from within.
- Are root canals very painful?
The root canal procedure itself is not the source of the pain. It is the inflammation caused by infection that is causing the pain, which is why we are doing the root canal in the first place – to relieve that pain. However, it is true that you will still experience some pain as the site heals after the therapy, sometimes lasting a few days to a few weeks.
- I’ve heard that the pain will never go away completely, is that true?
No. A successful root canal will eliminate the underlying pain. If you are still experiencing pain after the normal healing time, we will investigate other causes such a fractured tooth.
- Does root canal therapy take more than one visit?
Sometimes, but more often than not we can complete the procedure from start to finish in one single visit to our office!
- Are root canals expensive?
The cost varies depending on many factors, including how bad the infection is, whether it is the first treatment or a retreatment, and your insurance options. However, root canal therapy is less expensive than extraction and replacement down the road.
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